Sunday, September 17, 2006

The baby goats are so sweet to handle for shearing, they are not like the big goats at all, they are so soft and lightweight- they just go limp and lay still for the most part, even when not being held in a shearing hold. After shearing Jesse in a shearing hold (you can see him nekked and peeking out from the side of the proch) my back was already complaining- so I put April on the table (yes- there is a goat in there) and she just laid there like a kitty getting her belly rubbed. Look maaaaa.... no hands!

If you don't rememebr who April is, you can check back in the April 2006 archive and see pictures of her then. She was May's girl twin and could not stand up after being born. She could not nurse because of this and I worked very hard to get that baby up to her mom regularly. She wore little braces on her legs made out of yarn and duct tape and within a few days she was able to rise and walk unassisted. Look at her now! Jesse was Nana's boy twin, and her is the newborn Nana is cuddling in that touching birth photo.

I tried washing fleece with Orvus paste for the first time- that stuff works really well. It cost about $20 for 120 oz at the farm supply store. I have heard it also does wonders to get Clydesdale feathers white. The first batch of fleece I washed bits that I considered grade B, dirtier and a little matted, but not bad enough to toss. After washing I thought I may as well dye it right then since it was already wet and hot.

I dyed a pink and blue cotton candy combo- and it combs out into a really soft lilac. If I can figure out how to spin it- I might use it on a hat for my daughter. It's not really grade B after all!

Velma and Pixie- I would love to share this baby fleece around- but it has to last me for as long as these goats live- I'm guessing 10+ years. When you look at it that way, four baby fleeces is not that much. I will have plenty of adult fleece though! (but it's totally not comparable in texture- which once you see thaat difference- you'd understand why I am hoarding this baby stuff)Angora goats and some sheep are sheared 2x a year. I try to shear as late in the fall as I can so they get some hair regrowth before cold sets in. I try to shear as early in spring as they can take it. I try to get a six month gap.

12 months on a goat would be a lot of wear and tear on that outer surface of the fleece.